2017 Gay parade in Saigon

Ho Chi Minh City’s LGBT community took to downtown Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street on Sunday for a pride parade to demonstrate love and campaign for equality.

The parade was part of the 2017 VietPride series of events, which include multiple parades throughout Vietnam to show support and campaign for equality for Vietnam’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
The annual VietPride was first organized in Hanoi in 2012, before growing to become a nationwide event joined by tens of thousands every year. This year, VietPride is celebrated in 35 provinces and cities across Vietnam between July 29 and October 1.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the pride parade on Sunday afternoon was joined by over 2,000 people, who proudly waved rainbow flags as they marched through Nguyen Hue in the city center. Foreign tourists and locals who happened to be at the venue were also glad to show their support by joining the parade.

U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius – an openly gay diplomat – and his husband were among those who participated in the parade.